Agitation

CEDELYN L. INTANO
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Architecture

Cebu Institute of Technology – University, N. Bacalso Ave. Cebu City, 6000 Philippines

Date Performed: January 14, 2016

ABSTRACT

Agitation is an important wide variety of areas in both the traditional and

modern process industries. In the chemical and other processing industries, many operations
are dependent to a great extent on effective agitation and mixing of fluids. Generally,
agitation refers to forcing a fluid by mechanical means to flow in a circulatory or other
pattern inside a vessel. Mixing usually implies the taking of two or more separate phases,
such as a fluid and a powdered solid or two fluids, and causing them to be randomly
distributed through one another.
 I. Introduction

The experiment done was through a dry lab due to the unavailability of the equipment
that can help the students answer the objectives.

The purposes for agitating fluids include blending of two miscible liquids, dissolving
solids in liquids, dispersing a gas in a liquid as fine bubbles, suspending of fine solid particles
in a liquid and to increase heat transfer between the fluid and a coil or jacket.The efficiency
of the mixing equipment, as well as product quality, are influenced by the flow patterns
prevailing in the vessel, whether or not there are stagnant or dead regions in the vessel, and
whether or not particles are likely to be suspended.

There are several types of agitators that are widely used. A common type is a three-
bladed marine-type propeller similar to the propeller blade used in driving boats. The
propeller can be a side-entering type in a tank or be clamped on the side of an open vessel in
an off-center position. These propellers turn at high speeds of 400 to 1750 rpm (revolutions
per minute) and are used for liquids of low viscosity.

The flow patterns in an agitated tank depend upon the fluid properties, the geometry
of the tank, the types of baffles in the tank, and the agitator itself. If a propeller or other
agitator is mounted vertically in the center of a tank with no baffles, a swirling flow pattern
usually develops. Generally, this is undesirable, because of excessive air entrainment,
development of a large vortex, surging, and the like, especially at high speeds. To prevent
this, an angular off-center position can be used with propellors with small horsepower.
However, for vigorous agitation at higher power, unbalanced forces can become severe and
limit the use of higher power.

II. Materials, Apparatus, and Equipment

Agitator (2-blade paddle), Baffle strips (removable), Dynamometer, and Tachometer.

III. Methodology

The container was filled to fourteen (14) inches while the tank is without installed
with baffles. The impeller was attached to the agitator. The impeller was then immersed in
water inside the container such that its elevation is about four (4) inches. With the
dynamometer attached to the shaft, the power requirement was measured for different speeds
of rotation. The speed was also measured using the tachometer. Baffle strips were placed in
the container and it was then immersed in water inside the container. The power requirement
was once measured with the baffle strips attached.

IV. Data and Results

i. Dry Laboratory Problem:
Components for a liquid detergent (μ = 10 centipoises) are blended in the pilot
plant in a 10-gal, baffled, flat-bottomed tank 10-in. in diameter. A double-
turbine agitator with blades 6-in in diameter is used. A ½ hp motor turns the
agitator at 500 rpm for 30 min to attain complete dispersion. In the plant a
geometrically similar unit is planned to blend 200-gal batches of this solution.
Determine consistent values of agitator and tank diameter, revolutions per
minute, power requirement, and batch time for the plant unit. Base the design
on:

(a) Constant NRe,

(b) Constant agitator peripheral speed,

(c) Constant rpm.

ii. Solution:
For scale up of agitator in a geometrically similar unit:
1 1
𝐷 (𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘 2) 𝑉 (𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘 2) 3 200 𝑔𝑎𝑙 3
Scale up ratio = 𝐷 (𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘 1) = (𝑉 (𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘 1)) = ( 10 𝑔𝑎𝑙 ) = 2.71

R = 2.71

A) Constant NRe :

DA2 = [R] (DA1) = [2.71](6 in.)

DA2 = 16.26 in.

DT2 = [R](DT1)= [2.71] (10 in.)

DT2 = 27.1 in.

With NRe constant:

2
𝐷𝐴 𝑁𝜌
( NRe1 ) = ( NRe2 ) * NRe = ( )
𝜇
 2 2
𝐷𝐴 𝑁𝜌 𝐷𝐴 𝑁𝜌
( ) = ( ) * ρ1 = ρ2 and μ1 = μ2
𝜇 1 𝜇 2

2
𝑁1 𝐷𝐴2
Then = 2
𝑁2 𝐷𝐴1

𝐷 2 6 𝑖𝑛 2
N2 = [𝐷𝐴1 ] (𝑁1 ) = [16.26 𝑖𝑛] (500 rpm) = 68.08 rpm
𝐴2

For batch time, using Norwood and Metzner’s correlation ( f2 = f1):

2 1 1 2 1 1
𝑡2 [𝑁2 𝐷𝐴2 ]3 [𝑔]6 [𝐷𝐴2 ]2 𝑡1 [𝑁1 𝐷𝐴1 ]3 [𝑔]6 [𝐷𝐴1 ]2
1/2 3/2
= 1/2 3/2
𝐻2 𝐷𝑇2 𝐻1 𝐷𝑇1

2 2/3
𝐻 1/2 𝐷𝑇2 3/2 𝑁2 𝐷𝐴1 𝐷𝐴1 1/2
t2 = t1 [𝐻2 ] [𝐷 ] [𝑁 2 ] [𝐷 ]
1 𝑇1 1 𝐷𝐴2 𝐴2

𝐻 𝐷𝑇2 𝐷𝐴2
But for geometrically similar unit: R = 𝐻2 = =
1 𝐷𝑇1 𝐷𝐴1

t2 = t1 (R)1/2 (R)3/2 (1)2/3 (1/R)1/2 = (30 min.) (2.71)1/2 (2.71)3/2 (1)2/3 (1/2.71)1/2

t2 = 133.84 min.
𝑃
NP = 𝜌 𝑁3 𝐷5
𝐴

NP1 = NP2 (power number remains constant for geometrically similar units),
then:

𝑃2 𝑃1
3 5 =
𝜌 𝑁2 𝐷𝐴2 𝜌 𝑁13 𝐷15

𝑁 3 𝐷 5 𝑁 3
P2 = P1 [𝑁2 ] [𝐷𝐴2 ] = [𝑁2] [𝑅]5
1 𝐴1 1

68.08 𝑟𝑝𝑚 3
P2 = (0.5 ℎ𝑝) [ 200 𝑟𝑝𝑚 ] (2.71)5 = 𝟐. 𝟖𝟖 𝐡𝐩

B) Constant agitator peripheral speed

vt = (N)(DA)𝜋

vt2 = vt1

(N2DA2) = (N1DA1)
𝑁1 𝐷𝐴1 𝑁1 500 𝑟𝑝𝑚
N2 = = = = 𝟏𝟖𝟒. 𝟓 𝐫𝐩𝐦
𝐷𝐴2 𝑅 2.71
 1 3 2 1 2
2 3 3
𝐻 2 𝐷 2 𝑁 𝐷 𝐷𝐴1 2 3/2 𝐷𝐴1 3
t2 = t1 [𝐻2 ] [𝐷𝑇2 ] [𝑁2 𝐷𝐴1
2 ] [𝐷 ]
1/2
= t1 (R) (R) [𝐷3 ] (1/R)1/2 = t1 (R)1/2
1 𝑇1 1 𝐴2 𝐴2 𝐴2
(R)3/2 (1/R)2 (1/R)1/2

t2 = (30 min) (2.71)1/2 (2.71)3/2 (1/2.71)2 (1/2.71)1/2

t2 = 18.22 min.

𝑁 3 𝐷 5 𝑁 3
P2 = P1 [𝑁2 ] [𝐷𝐴2 ] = [𝑁2] (𝑅)5
1 𝐴1 1

184.5 𝑟𝑝𝑚
P2 = (0.5 hp) ( 500 𝑟𝑝𝑚 )3 (2.71)5

P2 = 3.67 hp

C) Constant rpm: N2 = N1

N2 = 500 rpm
1 3 2 1 2
2 3 2
𝐻 2 𝐷 2 𝑁 𝐷 𝐷𝐴1 2 3/2 𝐷𝐴1 3
t2 = t1 [𝐻2 ] [𝐷𝑇2 ] [𝑁2 𝐷𝐴1
2 ] [𝐷 ]
1/2
= t1 (R) (R) [𝐷2 ] (1/R)1/2
1 𝑇1 1 𝐴2 𝐴2 𝐴2

= t1 (R)1/2 (R)3/2 (1/R)4/3 (1/R)1/2 = (30 min) (2.71)1/2 (2.71)3/2

(1/2.71)4/3 (1/2.71)1/2

t2 = 35.42 min.

𝑁 3 𝐷 5 𝐷 5
P2 = P1 [𝑁2 ] [𝐷𝐴2 ] = P1[𝐷𝐴2 ] = P1 (𝑅)5
1 𝐴1 𝐴1

P2 = (0.5 hp)(2.71)5

P2 = 73.1 hp

V. Discussion and Conclusion

With the scale up ratio of 2.71, the required tank diameter is 27.1in and the agitator
diameter is 16.26 in. After the calculations, at constant Reynolds number, the velocity is 68.08
rpm, batch time is 133.84 min and the power requirement is 2.88 hp. For constant peripheral
speed, velocity is 184.5 rpm, batch time is 18.22 min and power requirement is 3.67 hp.
For constant velocity of 500 rpm, batch time is 35.42 min and power requirement is 73.1
hp.
 According to these results from the calculations, it is better to use the agitator at a
constant Reynolds number. Since at constant Reynolds number, less power requirement is
needed and therefore less expenses. It is not advisable to use the agitator at a constant
velocity during scale up due to the enormous amount of energy it will use with that batch
time.

VI. References

o Foust, et al., Principles of Unit Operations. John Wiley & Sons; Revised edition
(December 1960)

o Geankoplis, Transport Processes and Unit Operations. John Wiley & Sons